The Washington critic., 1887-02-11
WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY ii, 1887.
THE sCHuETzEN PARK CASE.

THE sCHUETZEN PARK CASE.
at is q pure case of law" says
Judge Smell, therefore the Schuetzen
Verein must be subjected to the same
penalty for selling glass Of beer on
Sunday, albeit to one of It's own mem
bcrs, that is imposed upon the saloon.
keeper for similar olrensc. His
Honor's Interpretation of the law may
be all right, but lr Il Is, then It strikes
us that the law Is all wrong.
There should certainly be some dis
elimination between the regular dealers
whose places are closed TO the general
public on Sunday, with Il view to the
better preservation Of order, and lc.
gitimate association of individuals,
dealing only with ils,l! and interfering
in 10 way vita ltcryllgiouS Observance
q the day
il Is ,rue that combinations or clubs,
having ihc form ifnot the substance Of
Incorporation are sometimes formed
for The express purpose of ovading the
Sunday law, either by drinking, or
gambling or both, and upon the theory,
which is logically sound, II not applica-
Bile in these particular cases, that no
private association of gentlemen Is
amenable to police regulations which
pertain only to ordinary blr.rooms.
But the police well understand the diff
ference between organizations of dis
reputable and surreptitlous order, aud
institutions Of responsibility and legal
standing like the Schuetzen Verein. So
that whatever the law may be, Is II not
manifestly unfair and unreasonable to
include the latter in the same category
with the formerl
The SchuetZen Park Association is
composed mainly of Germans, whose
ideas in regard TO the religious char
acter of the Christian Sabbath may not
precisely correspond with the strictly
orthodox standard, but who, of all
classes of the community-and this Is
true of them wherever found-are most
tolerant of the beliefs of others, and
most careful not TO meddle with other
peoples business.
Having social usages peculiar to
themselves, which they see no reason
to change so long as they violate none
of the obligations of good citizenship
and are not Extensively obtrusive, they
20 quietly about their enjoyments, as
they do about their business, and are
careful neither to disturb the peace of
society nor invade the sanctitles of the
church. Why their own peace should
he disturbed or sanclitics invaded
without the slightest provocation, or
why their organization, conducted ms It
is on honorable principles, and em-
braciug many OF the solid men OF
Washington in its membership, is not
entitled 10 the sane privileges and ex-
emptions as pertain 10 a well.oriered
family, we are at loss to understand.
II is anything but just or tight that
they should be kept under espionage
and the same rule applies to all organ
izatiors of a social or benevolent char.
acier that are established on perma.
nent basis, known to be lawful in their
objects, and supported by law-ablling
citizens.
The mistake of the ordinances or
regulations Is In confounling associa.
tions like the Scluet2en Nerein with
those that are clandestine in their
origin and corrupt in their purposes
These the police cannot be too vigilan,
in breaking up nor the court too Sc
we're in furnishing.
AS to the validity of law whicl
prohibits the officers of legal incor
poraiion from receiving money of 1t!
own members on Sunday, for the re
freshments they may desire to partak'
of on their own property, there is very
grave doubt. Ii is a question Of i'm
portance to various other organization
besides the Schuetzen Park Society
whether the law has the right to stel
in one day in each week and PRACTICAL,
suspend the machinery of priyat
association, with which the communit,
at large has nothing to do. 1t is not
question Of morals, but of right. I
is not a question of temperance, but o
common justice.
Hon, j. Milton TURNER Of st
Louis, one of the leading colored mer
of the country, is cordial supporter o